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Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Intelligence Officer (IO) Interview
Ever wondered what they ask James Bond at the interview?
My friend did a phone interview with CSIS and wrote down most of the questions. See below what she was asked. It was hilarious because even though it was a phone/video interview, the HR person told her she was not allowed to look at any notes or consult any materials. And they wanted to be able to see her! Seriously, a phone interview where they tell you you’re not allowed to look at any notes or materials! Literally every other government department gives you the questions ahead of time to prepare. Oh and get this, the National Assessment Panel interview is conducted via video conference, but the candidate has to be physically present at a CSIS office! How’s that for CSIS ‘intelligence’ during the COVID Pandemic!?
By the way, when it came to the current event questions, the HR people were obviously clueless. HR came across as disorganized, out of touch, and disinterested.
Process wise, expect to spend several years in the process with never ending delays and repetitive overlapping interviews with various people, mostly HR types. If you eventually get hired, they’ll move you around several times anywhere in Canada, and if you don’t get hired (years after applying), you’ll get a generic email and zero feedback with no chance to follow-up. Total clown show, for a below average government salary in a non-unionized role.
They also keep referring to CSIS as “Our Organization”.
They start with warning you that you’re not allowed to read any notes or refer to anything.
Below are the questions they ask:
They ask about education and a completed Bachelors.
They ask you about current employment details and current driver’s licence.
What did you do to prepare for today’s interview?
Were you given any advice on how to prepare for this interview?
Have you ever been told my someone what to expect for an interview with CSIS?
Can you describe how your previous academic and work experience has prepared you for this role with CSIS?
In the last 10 years have you travelled outside of Canada? Details about travel were probed for reason and countries.
What influenced you to apply to the Intelligence Officer position?
Have you applied to other positions?
How does this position fit into your career plans?
What is your understanding of the relocation requirement?
They then discuss the Case Officer role and the mobility requirements after 3 years and that you can get sent to Manitoba or Quebec.
Is your partner/spouse ok with you relocating anywhere in Canada? Would relocation have an impact on immediate family or other personal obligations?
What is your understanding of the Intelligence Officer role?
Training course is 12 weeks for Case Officer role with some exposure to Investigator role. After 3 years of Case Officer role there is further training for the Investigator role. Between the Case Officer (HQ analyst) and Investigator (field/regional) role, do you prefer one more? Why are you interested more in that particular role? Do you foresee any challenges with this role? Intelligence Officers currently work in major cities anywhere in Canada with some travel requirements.
In your own words, can you summarize the theme of the articles you read from the written task you completed previously (summary of several newspaper articles on terrorism investigations)? What did you find the most difficult about the exam?
In your own words, what is the Service’s mandate?
Describe the four threats outlined in section 2 of the CSIS Act. Talk about espionage, foreign influence activities, terrorism, and subversion. Describe each one in your own words and what each means (asking for definitions). Explain the four threats outlined in the CSIS Act and explain what you think those threats are.
Identity one domestic and one international event that is relevant to CSIS. Both events should be within the last 12 months, and explain how they relates to CSIS’s mandate.
We all have something that we would like to improve on. Discuss one personal and one professional trait that you would like to improve on.
Can you give an example of a poor decision you have made? Talk about why it was a poor decision, and what you learned from it. What types of decisions do you find the most difficult to make?
Can you describe a time when your values and beliefs impacted a professional relationship? It can be with a colleague, supervisor, or customer. Did you learn anything from the experience?
Can you tell me of a time when you worked on a team that you thought was going to be a success, but it turned out to be unsuccessful? Why did it turn out to be unsuccessful, and how did you manage the failure? Would you have done anything differently?
Provide an example of a time when you used your fact finding skills to get information needed to solve a problem.
Tell me about a task or project that you were responsible for that demonstrated your ability to analyze information. Did you experience any challenges?
Can you please provide one specific example from a personal and professional experience of a time when you received feedback and you had to change your way of doing things, although you disagreed. Provide one personal feedback example, and one professional feedback example. Example involves feedback received, and even though you disagreed, you decided to change your way of doing things based on the feedback. How do you feel about receiving feedback?
Do you have anything else that you would like to add that you feel could have an impact on your candidacy? Anything else that you would like to add?
We ask that you remain discreet about your application with us.
We do conduct a polygraph exam. We advise that you do not do any research. If you’ve done some research in the past that’s ok, but if you are going to continue with the process we advise that you don’t do any research, because that could have an impact on your candidacy.
They are trying to assess if you are good fit in terms of your experience, education, and personality.
The applications are quite slow compared to the usual 2-3 year time frame. Now more like 3-4 year time frame from online application to hire. They never count the 1 year you wait between applying online and actually doing an initial screening phone interview. Their 2 year estimate is closer to 3 years total, which is in reality 4 years at the present time from online application to hire since the in person steps cannot be done and their process doesn't adapt much. The pay is also sub par to other departments, plus poor working conditions with outdated technology, aside from mobility requirements and mandatory French.
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Has anyone ever had an interview with CSIS? (Read 9567 times)
